logo
This new Microsoft feature could give your Windows laptop more battery life

This new Microsoft feature could give your Windows laptop more battery life

India Today2 days ago
Microsoft is testing a new feature for Windows 11 laptops that could help users get more out of their device's battery. The feature is called adaptive energy saver, and instead of waiting for your battery to get low, it adjusts power-saving settings based on how your laptop is being used.What's newCurrently, Windows 11 has a regular energy saver mode that turns on when the battery drops below a certain percentage. It reduces screen brightness, stops apps from working in the background, and delays non-essential updates. But the new adaptive energy saver mode works differently.advertisementInstead of just relying on battery percentage, it looks at how much work your laptop is doing. If your system is not under heavy load, like when it's idle or running light tasks, this feature can automatically turn on energy-saving measures, even if your battery is still high.
This helps reduce power usage in moments when your laptop doesn't need full performance. And unlike the regular energy saver, it doesn't dim your screen, which means users can continue working without any noticeable change in display brightness.How it helpsThe biggest advantage here is subtle power management. Since the adaptive mode doesn't reduce screen brightness, you're less likely to notice that it's even active. But it still pauses non-critical updates, stops certain background apps, and disables visual effects like transparency.For example, apps like OneDrive or Phone Link may not sync fully while the feature is running. Windows Update may also skip less important downloads temporarily. All of this adds up to lower power usage, helping the battery last longer, especially during periods of low activity.This feature is designed only for devices with batteries, such as laptops, tablets, and handheld PCs. It won't work on desktop PCs, although Microsoft had earlier extended basic energy saver tools to desktops as well to help reduce electricity use.Where it's availableMicrosoft has started rolling out this feature to testers in the Windows 11 Canary Channel, one of the early testing groups for new features. If the testing goes well, adaptive energy saver is likely to reach all Windows 11 users later this year.Additionally, the feature is optional, meaning it won't turn on by itself. Users will need to go into settings and enable it manually. This gives users the freedom to decide if they want Windows to manage background power use even when battery is not running low.Why it mattersMost new laptops today already offer good battery life thanks to improvements in processors from companies like Intel and Qualcomm. But people who spend long hours working without charging still look for ways to get a little more time on battery. For them, this small change could make a real difference. Without affecting performance during heavy tasks or dimming the display, adaptive energy saver can quietly stretch your battery life in less demanding moments.- Ends
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tech Wrap July 16: Sonos Move 2, Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs, Acer Swift Lite 14
Tech Wrap July 16: Sonos Move 2, Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs, Acer Swift Lite 14

Business Standard

time4 hours ago

  • Business Standard

Tech Wrap July 16: Sonos Move 2, Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs, Acer Swift Lite 14

Sonos Move 2 speaker launched in India. Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition on Apple Macs. Acer Swift Lite 14 laptop launched. BGMI 3.9 update. Xbox cloud streaming on PCs. Microsoft Copilot Vision BS Tech New Delhi Sonos launches portable Move 2 speakers in India with stereo sound US-based audio brand Sonos has launched its new portable speaker – Move 2 in India. The new Sonos Move 2 speaker brings stereo sound and is said to offer up to 24 hours of battery life. Additionally, the speaker offers flexibility in connectivity with support for both Bluetooth and WiFi streaming. The company claims that the Move 2 speaker is made for every setting — from living rooms and balconies to weekend getaways and open-air adventures. CD Projekt Red has announced that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition will launch on Apple Silicon Macs on July 17. The game promises enhanced visuals and smooth gameplay on M-series chip-powered devices. This version includes all content released to date, such as the Phantom Liberty expansion. Acer has introduced the Swift Lite 14 AI laptop in India as part of its Copilot+ PC lineup. Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra processor, the laptop supports AI-powered functionalities such as multitasking and content creation. It also includes a Copilot key for one-touch access to Microsoft's AI assistant in Windows 11. Krafton has rolled out version 3.9 of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), introducing a new game mode inspired by the Transformers franchise. The update also includes new gameplay mechanics and themed events. Microsoft is testing a new cloud streaming feature that allows users to play Xbox console games they own on Windows PCs via the Xbox app. The feature, available to Xbox Insiders through the PC Gaming Preview program, requires an active Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Microsoft is enhancing Copilot Vision on Windows with broader screen reading capabilities. Previously limited to two apps at once, the updated feature now scans the full desktop or any selected app window to deliver real-time insights and task support. Google has introduced a special offer for Indian students, providing a free one-year subscription to the Gemini AI Pro Plan. Eligible students aged 18 and above must complete their registration by September 15, 2025. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has released a high-severity alert concerning Microsoft Windows and Office users. According to the advisory, multiple security vulnerabilities in Microsoft products could expose users to potential cyber threats. Given the widespread use of these platforms across India, the agency highlighted that both individual and business users could be at significant risk. Samsung has introduced new anti-theft features in India through its One UI 7 security update. These enhancements build upon existing Android security tools with additions like Identity Check and Security Delay, expanding on Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock capabilities. Following criticism over changes to its terms of service, Dutch file-sharing company WeTransfer clarified that it does not use user-uploaded files to train AI models. The firm has also updated its policy language to clear up any misunderstandings. Apple is preparing for the release of the iPhone 17 series, expected to consist of four models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, which may replace the existing Plus variant. Samsung's latest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, has dropped S Pen support in favor of a slimmer and more durable design. As reported by PCMag via ET News, Samsung acknowledged that accommodating the stylus would have required additional internal hardware, which was sacrificed to maintain a lighter form factor. Apple's iOS 26 update adds three new AI-driven tools that enhance how users interact with screenshots. These tools—Add to Calendar, Image Search, and Ask ChatGPT—make screenshots more actionable, helping users complete tasks like scheduling, shopping, or gathering information with fewer steps. Samsung has confirmed it will launch the Galaxy F36 5G in India on July 19. The company revealed key specs ahead of the launch, including camera features and AI-driven enhancements. The phone will be priced under ₹20,000. The Vivo X Fold 5 stands out as one of the most refined foldables on the market. It combines a sleek, lightweight build with a powerful 6000mAh battery and high-performing cameras, especially its telephoto portrait lens—delivering strong performance without the usual bulk. Apple has announced a $500 million investment in MP Materials, a rare earth mining company, as part of its effort to localize its supply chain. This move aligns with broader goals to shift iPhone production to the U.S. and reduce dependency on China, following pressure from the Trump administration. OpenAI is working on new features that could rival Microsoft Office tools like Excel and PowerPoint. According to The Information, users will soon be able to create and edit spreadsheets and presentations directly within ChatGPT, bypassing Microsoft software altogether. Latent content analysis explores how text can carry hidden meanings and emotional cues. This method can help reveal subtle political biases or emotional tones in communication. Recent studies suggest that AI models like GPT-4 are approaching human-level skill in recognizing sentiment, sarcasm, and intensity across varied texts. After OpenAI restricted access to its advanced tools last year, Chinese developers turned to open-source AI platforms—particularly those from Meta—to continue progress. Backed by state support, infrastructure investment, and local development, China is accelerating its AI ambitions through homegrown and community-driven alternatives.

Microsoft Copilot Vision Can Now View Entire Desktop for Real-Time Assistance
Microsoft Copilot Vision Can Now View Entire Desktop for Real-Time Assistance

Hans India

time6 hours ago

  • Hans India

Microsoft Copilot Vision Can Now View Entire Desktop for Real-Time Assistance

Microsoft is taking its AI-powered assistant to the next level with a powerful update to Copilot Vision, now capable of scanning your entire computer screen to deliver contextual, real-time assistance. The feature is gradually rolling out to users in the Windows Insider programme through the Microsoft Store (version 1.25071.125 or higher). Unlike Microsoft's earlier Recall feature — which faced scrutiny over its automatic screen snapshots — Copilot Vision's desktop viewing works more like a live screen share, offering users full control. You can manually activate it by clicking a glasses icon in the Copilot composer, and just as easily stop sharing at any time using the 'Stop' or 'X' button. Once enabled, the AI assistant can "see what you see" — whether you're editing a document, playing a game, or designing a presentation — and respond to your questions or tasks with helpful insights. 'When you share your desktop (or any specific browser or app window), Copilot can see what you see and talk to you about it in real time,' Microsoft explained in an official blog post. 'It can help analyse content, provide insights, and answer your questions, coaching you through it aloud.' This interactive mode also supports voice interactions. During a conversation with Copilot, users can activate Vision by clicking the same glasses icon to let the AI analyze on-screen content in context, improving its response accuracy. Initially, Microsoft restricted Copilot Vision to analyzing web pages within the Edge browser, but this update marks a significant expansion into broader desktop functionality. Microsoft is aiming to transform Copilot into a hands-on productivity partner, integrated across desktops and eventually mobile camera input as well. While the feature is currently limited to users in the US with devices running Windows 10 or 11, more regions are expected to be added in the future. For now, users in India and other markets will have to wait. Microsoft also announced that Dragon Copilot, the mobile and browser-friendly version of the assistant, will integrate with electronic health record (EHR) systems, hinting at applications beyond the desktop. As Copilot Vision continues to evolve, Microsoft is clearly positioning it as an AI companion not just for web searches but for every aspect of digital productivity.

Drones, AI and robot pickers: Meet the fully autonomous farm
Drones, AI and robot pickers: Meet the fully autonomous farm

Mint

time6 hours ago

  • Mint

Drones, AI and robot pickers: Meet the fully autonomous farm

In the verdant hills of Washington state's Palouse region, Andrew Nelson's tractor hums through the wheat fields on his 7,500-acre farm. Inside the cab, he's not gripping the steering wheel—he's on a Zoom call or checking messages. A software engineer and fifth-generation farmer, Nelson, 41, is at the vanguard of a transformation that is changing the way we grow and harvest our food. The tractor isn't only driving itself; its array of sensors, cameras, and analytic software is also constantly deciding where and when to spray fertilizer or whack weeds. Many modern farms already use GPS-guided tractors and digital technology such as farm-management software systems. Now, advances in artificial intelligence mean that the next step—the autonomous farm, with only minimal human tending—is finally coming into focus. Imagine a farm where fleets of autonomous tractors, drones and harvesters are guided by AI that tweaks operations minute by minute based on soil and weather data. Sensors would track plant health across thousands of acres, triggering precise sprays or irrigation exactly where needed. Farmers could swap long hours in the cab for monitoring dashboards and making high-level decisions. Every seed, drop of water and ounce of fertilizer would be optimized to boost yields and protect the land—driven by a connected system that gets smarter with each season. Andrew Nelson, who has tested agriculture technology for Microsoft as a consultant, launches a drone to take multispectral images of a field to document drainage and the amount of weeds. Much of the technology to power an autonomous revolution in agriculture already exists or is nearly ready for market launch. 'We're just getting to a turning point in the commercial viability of a lot of these technologies," says David Fiocco, a senior partner at McKinsey & Co. who leads research on agricultural innovation. A McKinsey survey in 2022 found that around two-thirds of American farms use digital systems to manage their farm operations, but only 15% of large farms and just 4% of smaller ones have yet invested significantly in robotics or automation. Fiocco expects the use of robots to rise dramatically in the coming years. Despite the promise of digital tools and autonomous machines, cost is a big barrier. Connectivity is another hurdle. Robots need to talk to each other. Moving data to a cloud requires broadband internet, and from a remote field that likely needs to be wireless. But wireless internet and land-based broadband aren't available everywhere in rural America. In developing countries, the digital gap is even wider. Some farmers are experimenting with edge computing, a networking design that stores data closer to where it originates. But experts say ultimately farms need to be connected to cloud-based systems. Here's a look at some of the essential components in the vision of the autonomous farm. Autonomous tractors Tractors that can plant, till and harvest with little, or only remote, human supervision are moving from prototype to practice. Traditional manufacturers and tech startups are placing big bets. Monarch Tractor, a Livermore, Calif., firm, has rolled out an all-electric, 'driver-optional" tractor now working vineyards. Its MK-V model can run up to 14 hours on a charge and be ready to roll again after six hours plugged in. Farmwise, another California company, has developed an AI-guided mechanical weeder and tiller that uses computer vision and robotics to identify and pluck weeds, running day or night, reducing the need for herbicides. In April, salad giant Taylor Farms acquired Farmwise, citing the technology's promise to cut labor costs and support more sustainable farming. Deere & Co. is taking an incremental approach, adding layers of automation to help farmers become comfortable with the technology—and see immediate payoffs—while paving the way toward full autonomy. Some of Deere's large sprayers use 'See & Spray" technology that incorporates computer vision and machine learning to target weeds in soybean, corn and cotton crops. Trained on thousands of images to identify weeds in real time and command individual nozzles to spray only where needed, it reduces herbicide use by up to two-thirds, the company says. Thirty-six cameras mounted on a sprayer boom scan fields at 2,100 square feet per second—far beyond what the human eye can manage. Using data and AI to analyze individual plants could eventually become a mainstream practice in farming. A 5,000-acre farm can contain around 750 million plants, and the challenge is giving each one its share of tender loving care. 'Sensing technology paired with models, paired with automation and eventually autonomy where it makes sense—there's a lot of opportunity there," says Sarah Schinckel, director of emerging technologies at the Moline, Ill.-based company. Fruit-picking robots and drones Automation, now most often used on large farms with wheat or corn laid out in neat rows, is a bigger challenge for crops like fruits and berries, which ripen at different times and grow on trees or bushes. Maintaining and harvesting these so-called specialty crops is labor-intensive. 'In specialty crops, the small army of weeders and pickers could soon be replaced by just one or two people overseeing the technology. That may be a decade out, but that's where we're going," says Fiocco of McKinsey. Fragile fruits like strawberries and grapes pose a huge challenge. Tortuga, an agriculture tech startup in Denver, developed a robot to do the job. Tortuga was acquired in March by vertical farming company Oishii. The robot resembles NASA's Mars Rover with fat tires and extended arms. It rolls along a bed of strawberries or grapes and uses a long pincher arm to reach into the vine and snip off a single berry or a bunch of grapes, placing them gingerly into a basket. 'Robotic harvesting can offer greater consistency and efficiency than manual labor, while reducing expenses and addressing the labor shortages affecting the industry as a whole," Brendan Somerville, chief operating officer and co-founder of Oishii said in an email, adding that the company's long-term vision is to fully automate its harvesting operations. Israel-based Tevel Aerobotics Technologies aims to help fruit growers reduce the need for labor with its 'Flying Autonomous Robots" that can prune, thin and harvest crops. Using AI and machine vision, the robots locate the fruit, determine whether it's ripe and then pluck it off the tree. 'Growers who don't adopt robotics won't survive—they simply have no choice," says Tevel Chief Executive and founder Yaniv Maor. Scaling up, however, remains a cost challenge for the company. Remote sensing, image analytics Drones and satellites, guided by artificial intelligence, are turning farms into data-driven operations. By capturing detailed images and sensor readings, they create 'digital twins"—virtual replicas of fields that show exactly where crops are too dry, too wet or under attack by disease or pests. This technology lets farmers spot problems early and target interventions more precisely, cutting waste and boosting yields. While pieces of this system are already in place, the next step is a fully connected network of machines that not only detect issues but learn from them. Ranveer Chandra, a senior Microsoft executive who spearheaded agriculture technology applications, sees a future where tractors and drones work in tandem, performing tasks like planting or spraying while continuously feeding new data into AI models tailored to each farm's conditions. 'There will be more automation, more use of drones, more robotics—it won't be farms without farmers, but AI will significantly amplify the productivity of every grower," Chandra says. 'Every time a drone flies or a tractor plants, it's gathering data that updates the farm's own unique AI model." Soil intelligence The SoilOptix system set up for mapping, with a gamma-radiation spectrometer on the vehicle, a soil-core sampler at left, a computer for data-collection monitoring and RTK GPS tech A crop is only as healthy as its soil. Traditionally, farmers send topsoil samples to a lab to have them analyzed. New technology that uses sensors to scan the soil on-site is enabling a precise diagnosis covering large areas of farms rather than spot checks. The diagnosis includes microbial analysis as well as identifying areas of soil compaction, when the soil becomes dense, hindering water infiltration, root penetration and gas exchange. Knowing this can help a farmer plan where to till and make other decisions about the new season. Canada-based SoilOptix says microbial soil analysis can enable farmers to more accurately determine changing conditions within a field. Rather than spraying or irrigating an entire field, the farmer can pinpoint where to spray, which dose to use, and the best timing for intervention. The virtual fence New technology is also changing livestock management. The creation of virtual fences, which are beginning to be adopted in the U.S., Europe and Australia, has the potential to help ranchers save money on expensive fencing and help them better manage their herds. Livestock are given GPS-enabled collars, and virtual boundaries are drawn on a digital map. If an animal approaches the virtual boundary, it first gets an auditory warning. If it continues, it gets zapped with a mild but firm electric shock. Write to future@

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store